Wilson inks deal for U’s ‘Do-Right’

NEW YORK — Hugh Wilson, whose last film was the hit “The First Wives Club,” has signed with Universal to write and direct “Dudley Do-Right,” the Canadian Mountie created by the late animator Jay Ward. According to sources, Wilson will be paid a sum near $5 million in writing and directing fees.

Wilson, whose credits include “Guarding Tess” and “Police Academy,” hit a high-water mark last year with the sleeper “Wives,” which passed the $100 million gross mark.

As for Ward’s other works, Disney’s counting heavily on the live-action version of Ward’s cartoon “George of the Jungle.”

U’s angling to get “Dudley” into theaters for 1999, in time for the opening of a theme park in Florida that will feature a Do-Right-themed ride. The film will be produced by Joseph Singer, John Davis and J. Todd Harris.

Wilson is first expected to direct the New Line film “Blast From the Past,” which is now in the casting stage.

The director was repped in the deal by William Morris’ John Burnham, Carol Yumkas and Graham Kaye.